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Konevets monastery

The Konevets monastery was founded by the hermit Arsenij Konevskij in 1339. According to the legend he was looking for the secluded place to devote his life to the God. He came to the Konevets. At first he didn’t like the Island and decided to go further. When he was ready to board the boat terrible storm prevented him to leave. He tried another day but it was the same. Arsenij decided that this is God’s sign for him to stay on the Island.

In 1398 the Cathedral of Nativity of Virgin Mary was laid. It’s the main attraction on the Island: it houses the relics of Arsenij Konevskij and the icon of Our Lady of Konevets. The monks sing sacred music for the tourist groups for the donations to the Monastery in the Cathedral.

During the centuries the monastery was destroyed several times (wars with Sweden) but monks rebuilt it all the time. By the way they never hold the guns in their hands…

There is the active monastery on the Island (25 monks live there). Konevets Monastery is as small brother of the famous Valaam Monastery and all the time was and still is in its shadow.

Additional information:
Konevets Island has the maximum length of 5 km; its average width is 2 km. The island is separated from the mainland by a 5-km-wide strait.